Folding chair.



W. E. KIDDER.

FOLDING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. I914.

l fimfiwo Patented Jan. 22,1918.

LIAM nimnnna, or

MAZOO, MICHIGAN.

ronnms CHAIR.

Specification of Iietters' atent. Patbemtmd Jam, 22, 1199118,

Application filed February 11, 1914. Serial No. 818,127.

To all whom it may concern:

I foldir g chairs.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved folding chair having legs, back and seat pivotally connected and arranged so as to fold or collapse, which is simple and economical in structure, collapses into a compact form, and one which.;- is strong and durable and capable of sustaining heavy loads, although formed of comparatively light material.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The inventionis clearly defined and pointed-out in the claims.

A'structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a perspective view of a structure embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. II is a view partially ,in vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. I partially collapsed.

Fig. III is a view partially in'vertical section of the structure fully collapsed.

Fig. IV is an enlarged detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. I.

Fig. V is a detail section on a line corre sponding to line 55 of Fig. IV.

.In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar. parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends'of the section lines. Referring to the drawings, the front and rear legs 1 and 2 respectively are arranged 'in crossed pairs and pivotally connected at the point of crossing by the rung 3. The front legs are extended into back members 4. The front legs are arranged on the outside of the rear legs so that when the chair is collapsed the rear legsswingbetween the front legs. The rear legs are connected considerable strain.

by the rungs 5. The seat 6 is pivotally connected to the upper ends of the rear legs by means of'the strap-like coupling members 7 which are rigidly mounted on the.

upper ends of the rear legs and connected to'the seat by the pivots 8. The seat is arranged between these coupling members. The back 9 is provided with forwardly projecting pivot ears 10 centrally disposed on the back and connected to the inner sides of the back members 4 by the pivots 11.

The lower end of the back is connected by" the pivots 12 to the upwardly and rearwardly projecting coupling members 13 secured on the edges of the seat, as illustrated. In practice the coupling members 7 and 13 are stampings, the-one being a duplicate of the other.

With the parts thus pivotally connected the back 9 swings to a reversed position be tween the side members 4 when the strucas a support for the seat when the chair is in its erected position, thus relieving the.

pivotal connections for the back of any This tie rod is preferably provided with washers 16 at its ends and both ends are headed or riveted so that the legs cannot spread and, at the same time an effective support for the seat is provided.

The coupling members 13 are provided with stops 1? which project below the seat and engage the tie rod as shown in Fig. V, when the chair is erected, limiting the forward swing of the seat and relieving the pivots of strain or load. The tie rod is of comparatively small diameter in practice so that it yields slightly under the weight of the occupant tending to bow the members 1 inwardly and tightening up the joints of the chair. The tie rod being of small diameter, the members 1 are not materially weakened by the bore to receive it. The back pivots 11 being in front of the back permit the seat to rest on the tie rod and the full load is carried thereby and there is practically no strain on the pivots.

With the parts thus arranged, the rear legs fold" between the front legs, and the hack, and the seat also folds between the back members or front leg extensions so that when the structure is collapsed it is very compact. The pivots connecting the seat to the front legs and back and the pivots connecting the back to the back members, are so disposed that the pivots connecting the seat and back move across a plane through the back pivots and the front seat pivots under stress, as, the parts swing to andfrom their collapsed position, thereby retaining the parts in collapsed position.

' The structure is very easily and quickly erected or collapsed and is, when erected, strong and rigid and capable of carrying heavy loads, although formed of comparatively light material. The structure is also, as stated, very economical to produce.

.Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: k I

1. In a folding chair, the combination of a seat, a back, pivoted front and rear legs disposed so that the rear legs collapse between the' front, the front legs being extended into back members between which the back is pivoted by means of forwardly projecting pivot ears carried by the back and pivots on the back member, the lower end of theseat and the rear end of the back being pivotally connected by means of upwardly projecting coupling members carried by the seat and pivots on the back, the

front end of the seat being pivotally connected to the upper ends of the rear legs by means'of members mounted on the legs and pivots on the seat so that when thechair is collapsed the back is reversed and the seat swings up at the rear thereof with the back, seat, and rear legs within the plane of the front legs and back members, the said pivots being disposed so that the pivots connecting the seat and back move across a plane through the -back and front seat pivots under stress thereby retaining the parts in collapsed position, and a rod extending between the front legs and positioned to support the rear end of the seat, the coupling members having stops engaging the rod limiting the forward movement of the seat seat beingpivotally connected to the upper 1 ends of the rear legs so that when-the chair is collapsed the back is reversed and the seat swings up at the rear thereof with the back, seat, and rear legs between the front legs and back members, the said pivots being disposed so that the pivots connecting the seat and back move across a plane through the back and frontseat p1vots under stress, thereby retaining the parts in collapsed position, and a rod extending between the front legs positioned to support the rear end of the seat when the chair is erected.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of, two witnesses.

VVILLIALI E. KIDDER. |:L. 8.]

Witnesses: I

'E. M. STRoUsE,

F. C. FULLER. 

